RopaDOP

'rope challenge' > Introduction :Climbing techniques and equipment have developed rapidly over the past 20 years. Still developing and setting new standards , the world's top climbers are setting new routes that the sport's pioneers such as Chris Bonnington could only dream of in their heyday [ To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1st ascent of Everest, Britain's famed mountaineer draws upon his experiences [4 books]. Covering his own climbs of the mountain to write & reflect on the changes that have come to the mountain area he loves, and the developments that have transformed the horizons of Himalayan climbing. The result is an absorbing 1st-hand account of one man's fascination with a mountain, illustrated by some remarkable color photographs hc/260pp/color photos Bonington isbn 007141424X ].
All this thanks to modern fabrication techniques that have improved the safety of climbers as well offer a whole range of 'products' to 'help' the climber achieve his objective.

Ali Maghrebi was quick to realise that the techniques used by today's climbers could be used to good and safe effect in an industrial environment, where the difficulty of constructing access or the remoteness of the locations being accessed often means that absailing inspections are the only 'cost-effective' option.

Since 1985, Ali Maghrebi has used roped access techniques on almost most of his 'climbing challenges'. Keen to point out the more than 100 structural and geotechnical projects ranging from the rockfaces below Edinburgh Castle to the inside of the
Spillway Shafts at Ladybower dam near Sheffield, AM has been a keen proponent of the study of ropes and their uses [ from bridges all the way to ships and of course, that all important construction industry].

A remarkably imaginative use of ropes was in the design and supervision of the construction of a section of the A82 on the
banks of Loch Lomond from Luss to Tarbet. The section of road required a significant amount of rock cutting. Due to the height and angle of the rockfaces the only feasible way to inspect the post-construction works was by roped access. The contractor in this case successfully completed the project with substantial savings in time and money due to the method of access.

Another area where there are potential cost savings to be made on structural assessments using roped access techniques is in the area of extensive structural assessments of road/ railway bridges and other 'public' infra-structures like DAM walls, water reservoirs and other types of 'large' storage facilities. Recent developments have included the scaling of tall buildings and other functional structures [ inspection of the Eiffel Tower for example].

In the UK roped access teams are trained to standards set by the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA)[ http://www.irata.org/ ] . Rope access is also a 'sport' with an ever growing following as travel becomes cheaper. More and more outdoor sport enthusiasts are turning towards 'ropes' as a enjoyable and challenging activity.

The aim is to produce an authoritative market research report to establish the 'envelope' in the market for ropes and rope users , to include techniques, products, uses , cost benefit models, rope rentals and rope manufacture.

The intention is to attract investment for a 'rope' 'A' TEAM of 23 professionals at a permament 'location' [ could be international and on the web] , to respond to invitations to 'bid' for projects as a bread and butter propostion but to also mobilies in civil emergencies [ like flooding , earthquakes , mountain rescue and training of personnel in rope techniques as well as take part in rope sport].
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Looking for: Market Research professional

Deliverable: A report that states/says what the potential market for growth is (market evaluation/sizing)